For Botswana these are not ordinary times.
The country is divided, volatile and citizens are increasingly prickly and on permanent combat.
It has all to do with a deep feeling among many of them that they have not been beneficiaries of the country’s economic progress.
Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) is worried that should the government accede to proposal by the Ngwato Land Board to pay former cabinet minister Boyce Sebetela over P26 million, and six other farmers a combined P10 million, this could results in a bad compensation precedent set.
The Bank of Botswana’s bi-annual Business Expectations Survey (BES) report has indicated that economic growth of most African countries will record a single digit growth for both 2017 and 2018.
The report states that it is anticipated that most economies will register a 3.5 percent growth in 2017 before slightly picking up the pace to 3.6 percent in 2018.
Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) says it is vital for the organisation to penetrate the African market in order to extend its pipeline through collaboration with Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
On the occasion of the burial of Botswana’s former President, Sir Ketumile Masire this week, an ex-cabinet minister Daniel Kwelagobe is his eulogy mentioned the need to go back to the “cross roads”.
Kwelagobe might have been speaking in “political tones” but whatever he meant and its outcome has a great impact in the domestic economy performance and citizen economic empowerment.
The government is still cagey on the valuation price of the ongoing sale of Morupule B power plant, citing confidentiality of the negotiations.
The country’s only listed telecommunications company, Botswana Telecommunication Corporation Limited (BTCL), had its shares climbing up by 11.8 percent this week to end trade at 142 Thebe per share.
The Botswana government this week suspended export licenses for donkeys and their products.
Francistown Mayoress Sylvia Muzila has vowed to transform the old and rugged Francistown Golf Course into a vibrant multi-billion Pula worth Central Business District.
The government has appointed Toby Frears as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Minerals Development Company of Botswana (Pty) Ltd (MDCB,) taking over from Paul Smith who left the company unceremoniously mid April 2017.